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SamsungGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 4/10

Samsung patents camera lens system with dual motors for precise focus

Samsung has been granted a patent for a camera module that uses two separate motors to move a lens for auto-focus. The design places a driver circuit inside each motor coil to control the movement independently, allowing the lens to shift along its optical axis.

Why it mattersThis design aims to improve the accuracy and consistency of camera focusing by managing the lens movement from both sides.

In the filing’s own words

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a lens assembly disposed along an optical axis, and an AF actuator. The AF actuator includes a first AF magnet disposed on a first surface of the lens assembly facing a first direction, a second AF magnet disposed on a second surface facing a direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the lens assembly, a first AF coil disposed inside the housing to face the first AF magnet, a first driving circuit disposed at the center of the first AF coil to control a current applied to the first AF coil, a second AF coil disposed inside the housing to face the second AF magnet, and a second driving circuit disposed at the center of the second AF coil to control a current applied to the second AF coil.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic device comprising: a housing; a lens assembly comprising at least one lens aligned along an optical axis; and an auto-focus (AF) actuator to move the lens assembly within the housing, wherein the AF actuator comprises: a first AF magnet disposed on a first side of the lens assembly, a second AF magnet disposed on a second side of the lens assembly opposite to the first side, a first AF coil disposed to face the first AF magnet, a first position sensor configured to detect a first position of the first AF magnet, a second AF coil disposed to face the second AF magnet, a second position sensor configured to detect a second position of the second AF magnet, a first AF driver integrated circuit (IC) including first memory configured to store a first calibration value and a first driving circuit configured to control a current applied to the first AF coil based on the first position of the first AF magnet detected via the first position sensor, a second AF driver IC including second memory configured to store a second calibration value and a second driving circuit configured to control a current applied to the second AF coil based on the second position of the second AF magnet detected via the second position sensor to move the lens assembly in a direction of the optical axis, the second memory being separate from the first memory, wherein the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit are configured to allow opposite ends of the AF actuator to have substantially a same stroke, wherein the current applied to the second AF coil is different from the current applied to the first AF coil, wherein the first AF driver IC is disposed inside a periphery of the first AF coil and configured to control the first driving circuit based on the first calibration value stored in the first memory, and wherein the second AF driver IC is disposed inside a periphery of the second AF coil and configured to control the second driving circuit based on the second calibration value stored in the second memory.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Camera module and electronic device having same
Patent number
US12736771B2
Application number
18333142
Filed
Jun 12, 2023
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

G02B 7/08 Physics & computingG02B 7/28 Physics & computingG03B 13/36 Physics & computingH02K 11/215 Electricity & electronicsH02K 11/33 Electricity & electronicsH02K 11/35 Electricity & electronics

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.